Secret Menus: What They Are, Why They’re Awesome & Who Has Them

For an added taste of mystery

We all have our favorite food and drink joints where we have set orders that never require a second thought. Of course, we also have some second favorites that break the routine once in a while. But while we’ve gotten comfortable, sometimes life just throws us a curveball in the form of off-menu items that we never see coming—and most often than not end up loving.

What is a secret menu?

Basically, a secret menu is an off-the-record offering that some restaurants provide for their customers. You can ask for it verbally, but you’ll never find it on the physical menu. It sometimes feels like an exclusive experience that only those in the know have access to.

Why do we love them?

The best thing about secret menus is that you get a taste of something you don’t normally do. Whether it means a standard dish that is brought to new heights or something new altogether, there’s a thrill that comes with tasting what else a place has to offer—especially when you’re there so often. And if we’re being honest, it’s also knowing and experiencing something not a lot of people get to.

Who has them?

McDonalds

The standard menu of McDonalds has literally been beloved for years now. We all know what the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, classic Cheeseburger, McChicken and Filet-O-Fish are like. We’re familiar with that first bite that satisfies our palates and is soon cooled off by an ice-cold drink. But let’s up the game, shall we?

Select McDonalds branches offer four secret items that you can order: the Surf ‘N Turf, the Triple Cheeseburger, the Double McChicken and the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Each burger is monstrous and most definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Starbucks

We know how attached you can get to your Starbucks drinks—trust us. But don’t let the well-designed signage distract you; there are so many more options available. Those baristas know more than just the standard Cold Brew, Mocha Frap and Christmas drinks.

Get the Banana Cream Pie Frappuccino by asking for a standard Vanilla Bean Frap with an extra pump (or two) of vanilla, hazelnut syrup and a whole banana. Or try the Caramel Snickerdoodle Macchiato by asking for an upside down Soy Caramel Macchiato with two pumps of vanilla syrup and two pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup.

Ramen Yushoken

This gem of a restaurant in the South is well known for their mouthwatering ramen dishes and you literally cannot go wrong with any order. But there are some off-menu items you need to try to really complete your Yushoken experience. Don’t get your hopes up too high though, because there’s a maximum number of orders per day.

The Shoyu Maze Soba is perfect for those that prefer a dry noodle dish. The combination of al dente noodles, bean sprouts, chopped cabbage, minced chashu, green onions and chopped pork is satisfaction with every bite. But for something a little more sinful, try the Super Chasu. We warn you though: Once you go for the Super Chashu, there is no turning back.

SweetEcstasy

Once upon a time, Sweet Ecstasy was a place to stumble upon in the late hours of the night to satisfy a craving that only a greasy burger could fix. But because you don’t need a fuzzy head to appreciate good food, it’s also just become a chill place to eat with great friends.

What isn’t chill, however, is Sweet Ecstasy’s Wingception. Think deep-fried boneless chicken wings that are stuffed with hot peppers and gooey cheese. It’s as good as it sounds and each bite is explosive, which only gets better when you have it with some blue cheese.

Tipple & Slaw

Sometimes you just need to trust that when something is meant for you, it will come back. But maybe you can’t just wait for it appear in front of you again; you need to ask for it.

That’s the case for the Sriracha Mac and Cheese of Tipple & Slaw, which was once an on-menu item that they have since taken off. But while you won’t be able to see it written anywhere, you can still ask the servers for it.